YMCA Lifeguard Practice Test 2025 - Free Lifeguard Questions and Study Guide

The primary purpose of performing CPR is to maintain blood circulation. When a person experiences cardiac arrest, their heart stops beating effectively, which halts the flow of oxygenated blood to vital organs. CPR combines chest compressions and, if necessary, rescue breaths to manually keep blood circulating throughout the body. This is crucial because the brain and other vital organs can suffer irreversible damage if deprived of oxygen for too long. By maintaining some level of blood circulation, CPR can help sustain life until emergency medical services can take over and provide advanced care.

Restoring breathing and stimulating the heart are also important components of life-saving techniques, but they are secondary outcomes. The immediate goal of CPR is focused on delivering blood circulation, which indirectly supports the restoration of normal heart function and breathing once advanced medical support is available. Clearing an obstructed airway is a separate procedure that is vital in cases of choking but is not the primary purpose of CPR itself.